Light source and firearm magazine holder clamp

ABSTRACT

A wrist clamp having an integral and/or removable light source and attached magazine bracket is provided. The wrist clamp includes an outside surface and an inside surface. The wrist clamp is formed to fit around and secure to the wrist of a user so that the inside surface is adjacent to the user&#39;s skin. The magazine bracket may protrude from the outside surface of the wrist clamp and may releasably secure a gun magazine within so that the user may have quick access to the gun magazine. The wrist clamp includes a power button for the light source.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisionalapplication No. 61/813,161, filed Apr. 17, 2013, the contents of whichare herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to firearm accessories and, moreparticularly, to a light source and firearm magazine holder that canquickly clamp to a user's wrist.

Secure and safe handling of a firearm, such as a handgun, in anemergency situation and in limited light may require a two handed gripon the gun and quick acquisition of both a light source and spareammunition. A light can be mounted on a firearm, but one must stilleither carry a spare magazine, taking their support hand off thefirearm. Alternatively, the user may place the magazine in a pocket, ifavailable, which severely restricts rapid reloading, or place themagazine in a typical magazine holder currently in use. Typical magazineholders, however, require placement on a belt or torso of the user,which is significantly further away from the firearm, requiring moreskill and time to reload.

As can be seen, there is a need for a system that can provide for fast,simultaneous acquisition of illumination, ammunition, and a firearm,while leaving a free hand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a magazine holder comprises: awrist clamp comprising an outside surface and an inside surface, whereinthe wrist clamp is formed to secure to a user's wrist; and a magazinebracket protruding from the outside surface of the wrist clamp, whereinthe magazine bracket is formed to releasably secure a magazine of a gun.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdrawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a light source and magazine holder wristclamp, in a closed configuration, according to an exemplary embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a light source and magazine holder wristclamp, in an open configuration, according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a user moving their wrist down ontothe open light source and magazine holder wrist clamp of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the light source and magazine holderwrist clamp applied to the user after performing the movementillustrated in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplatedmodes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. Thedescription is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merelyfor the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention,since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 4, the present invention includes awrist clamp 11 having an attached magazine bracket 26. The wrist clamp11 includes an outside surface and an inside surface. The wrist clamp 11is formed to fit around and secure to the wrist 36 of a user so that theinside surface is adjacent to the user's skin. The magazine bracket 26may protrude from the outside surface of the wrist clamp 11 and mayreleasably secure a gun magazine 22 within so that the user may havequick access to the gun magazine 22.

In certain embodiments, the wrist clamp 11 may include an ulnar wristclamp 10 and a radial wrist clamp 12 that are designed similar to a clamshell to open and close around a user's wrist 36. The ulnar wrist clamp10 and the radial wrist clamp 12 can be attached to a base plate 28 withone or more hinges 24. The ulnar wrist clamp 10 and the radial wristclamp 12 can open and close through various mechanisms, such as with aspring-loaded mechanism with a closure trigger arm 30, as described ingreater detail below.

Closing the ulnar wrist clamp 10 and the radial wrist clamp 12 mayinclude an engagement mechanism on each opposing engaging edge. Theengagement mechanism may include, but is not limited to, mechanicaloperation (e.g., opposing teeth, friction, or the like) or any othertype of system to securely hold the wrist clamps 10, 12 together andremain adjustable with one hand. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, afemale slot 32 can be provided on one of the wrist clamps 10, 12 and amale toothed tab 40 can be disposed on the other one of the wrist clamps10, 12, such that as the device is closed, the wrist clamps 10, 12 aresecurely engaged. A release button 42 may be used to disengage the maletoothed tab 40 from the female slot 32 for the removal of the wristclamp 11.

A trigger mechanism for closing the wrist clamp 11 together can belocated on the inside surface (skin side) of the baseplate 28, the exactappearance of which may be determined by the type of functioning systemused (mechanical, thermal, or the like) and the material ofconstruction. In some embodiments, as shown in the Figures, a closuretrigger arm 30 can extend from each of the wrist clamps 10, 12 so that adownward pressure (as can be achieved when moving from the position ofFIG. 3 to the position of FIG. 4) on the closure trigger arms 30 causesthe wrist clamps 10, 12 to pivot on their hinges 24 and close on theuser's wrist 36.

The wrist clamps 10, 12 can be reversed on the baseplate 28 in oneembodiment to make the device ambidextrous and/or it could be producedin right and left hand versions. The inside surface (skin contact side)of all parts can be cushioned for user comfort. Variations of thisdevice would include, but not limited to, using belts, straps, glove(s),stretchable material, hook and loop, or other methods and materials tosecure the device to the user's wrist and/or arm.

The outside surface of the baseplate 28, opposite the skin contact side,includes various attachment points and magazine brackets 26 to fit allthe different magazines 22 on the market. Another embodiment includesbut is not limited to producing proprietary adapters to securely fiteach type of magazine bracket 26 and attaching the adapters by a uniformmethod securely to the baseplate 28. All attachment points includemechanical, magnetic, or hook and loop fasteners but is not limited toany one type or combination of methods of attachment.

One or more lights 14 can be provided on the device of the presentinvention. The light source 14 may protrude from the outside surface ofthe wrist clamp 11. Battery(s) can inserted into a battery compartment18 to energize the light bulb(s) 16 which can be controlled by one ormore power button/switches 20, all of which are connected by thewiring/circuitry and are integral to one of the wrist clamps 10, 12,such as the radial wrist clamp 12, for a right-handed shooter and maybe, but not necessarily, waterproof. The light housing providesconvenient access to the battery(s) and remains waterproof, if designedfor it, after repeated, rugged use. Rechargeable batteries and arecharging system can be used, but other battery types can be used topower the lights 14. The portion of the light housing comprising theactual light source is positioned such that the light beam it emits isunobstructed by the back of the hand or this portion could be made toarticulate to accomplish same. Another embodiment includes a removablelight source which includes its own controls and power source and couldbe user supplied. Another embodiment would include a proprietary,removable, light source, typically waterproof, that could compriseattachment systems to allow it to be placed elsewhere.

The power button/switch 20 can be located on the front edge of theradial wrist clamp 12 side, or as close as possible for activation bythe thumb of the support hand. The power button/switch 20 can beconnected through the wiring/circuitry to the battery(s) and lightsource. The light can be user programmable for multifunction capability,e.g., first activation-constant beam, second-flash, third-strobe, and/orany other combination of control functions deemed useful. The type offunctions and electronic features of this device are limited only bycost and could include, but not limited to such items, or combinationthereof, as public and/or private communications, emergency locator, 911calling, GPS, and defensive tool(s) including electronic shock, piercingor striking tool, and the like.

To prepare the device for use, the user first grasps each unlocked sideand separates them completely against the tension of the hinges untilthe sides lock open with the concavity (interior, closure trigger arms30) of the sides facing up when placing the baseplate 28 with magazinebracket(s) 26 on a horizontal surface 34 (e.g., bedside table, inside adrawer, or the like) with the forward end (with the light source) justbelow the grip of a handgun with the grip pointing to the right (for aright handed person). This exposes the trigger of the device on theinterior (skin side) of the baseplate and permits a right handed personto quickly grasp the grip of the gun and simultaneously activate thetrigger of the device with pressure from the palmar surface of the wristcausing it to rapidly close and lock around the wrist. The adjustablemechanism allows the user to quickly change the pressure the deviceexerts on the wrist. The support hand grasps around the primary handwhich holds the gun and with both thumbs outstretched and touching for aproper two handed grip on the gun, it brings the thumb of the supporthand very close to the power button/switch. The user is now able toactivate the power button/switch 20 without removing the support handand selects which type of light function is appropriate; the supporthand is now free to perform other tasks such as maintaining the twohanded grip, or reloading, manipulating doors, and the like. The sparemagazine(s) 22 are now positioned in the same orientation as when loadedin the gun 38 and just a few inches from the support hand allowing thehand to quickly remove the magazine 22 from the device and rapidlyinsert it into the gun 38. The rapid acquisition of firearm, lightsource, and spare ammunition in one motion and leaving one hand freecould prove the difference between life and death in an emergencysituation and allowing for the most rapid reload possible forcompetition.

The device should be located on a flat surface where the user can keepthe gun safe and place the firearm down with the muzzle pointing in asafe direction but oriented so that the user can pick it up again withthe primary hand with the muzzle already in the firing position. Just asthe user sets the gun down, they should note the position of both thegun and the device and store these items in that position with the sideslocked open. Now, the user can activate the trigger of the device withtheir wrist at the same time they pick up the gun, allowing the user toacquire the gun, spare ammunition, and a powerful light source in onequick, efficient motion.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates toexemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A magazine holder comprising: a wrist clampcomprising an outside surface and an inside surface, wherein the wristclamp is formed to secure to a user's wrist; and a magazine bracketprotruding from the outside surface of the wrist clamp, wherein themagazine bracket is formed to releasably secure a magazine of a gun. 2.The magazine holder of claim 1, further comprising at least one lightsource protruding from the outside surface of the wrist clamp.
 3. Themagazine holder of claim 2, further comprising a power button wired tothe at least one light source.
 4. The magazine holder of claim 3,wherein the power button comprises a first activation activating aconstant beam, a second activation activating a flash, and a thirdactivation activating a strobe.
 5. The magazine holder of claim 1,wherein the wrist clamp comprises: a base plate; an ulnar wrist clampattached to the base plate by at least one hinge and comprising anengaging edge; a radial wrist clamp attached to the base plate by atleast one hinge and comprising an engaging edge; and an engagementmechanism releasably attaching the engaging edge of the ulnar wristclamp to the engaging edge of the radial wrist clamp.
 6. The magazineholder of claim 5, wherein the engagement mechanism comprises a femaleslot and a male toothed tab configured to engage and releasably attachwithin the female slot.
 7. The magazine holder of claim 6, furthercomprising a release button configured to disengage the male toothed tabfrom the female slot.
 8. The magazine holder of claim 5, furthercomprising a trigger mechanism configured to activate the securement ofthe ulnar wrist clamp to the radial wrist clamp.
 9. The magazine holderof claim 8, wherein the trigger mechanism comprises a pair of closuretrigger arms each extending from the ulnar wrist clamp and the radialwrist clamp.
 10. The magazine holder of claim 9, wherein the closuretrigger arms are activated by applying pressure to the closure triggerarms, and thereby pivoting the ulnar wrist clamp and the radial wristclamp towards one another.